4-98-334 SMMC April2000ReportVENTURA, CA 93001 (805) 585-1800 STAFF REPORT: REGULAR CALENDAR APPLICATION: 4-98-334 APPLICANT: State of California, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy

WED 8cSTATE OF CALIFORNIA -- THE RESOURCES AGENCY GRAY DAVIS, Governor

CALIFORNIA COASTAL COMMISSIONSOUTH CENTRAL COAST AREA89 SOUTH CALIFORNIA ST., SUITE 200VENTURA, CA 93001(805) 585-1800

STAFF REPORT: REGULAR CALENDAR

APPLICATION: 4-98-334

APPLICANT: State of California, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy

PROJECT LOCATION: Ramirez Canyon Park (formerly the Streisand Center forConservancy Studies) at 5750, 5775, 5800, 5802, and 5810Ramirez Canyon Road, Malibu, County of Los Angeles

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Convert 5 existing single family residences (on 6 lots) touse for offices and appurtenant facilities for up to 14 staff and 2 maintenance workers,and use one of the residences to house a ranger and family; install two water tanks tosupply a backup water source for fire fighting; provide on site parking in a variety oflocations; permanently abandon specified existing septic system components; install newwastewater treatment facility, including treated effluent discharge plan; continuouslymaintain a minimum of three portable toilets on site for use by all groups of more than 40participants and by participants in public outreach activities; conduct special events forgroups of up to 200 guests (subject to a variety of daily, monthly, and seasonalrestrictions), and small group gatherings (such as workshops, meetings, and retreats)and tours, for groups of up to 40 participants; establish satellite parking locations toserve van shuttles to the site; install and/or improve on-site trails and picnic facilities;conduct recreational and interpretive programs for physically-challenged park visitors;perform structural reinforcements to existing wooden bridge on Ramirez Canyon Road,perform fuel modification on site and along Ramirez Canyon Road, and undertakespecified improvements to on site driveways and turnout areas for emergency vehicleaccess, all in accordance with the recommendations and requirements of state andcounty fire and life safety reviewers. The applicant has renamed the former StreisandCenter for Conservancy Studies to Ramirez Canyon Park.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval with eighteen (18) special conditions. SeeExecutive Summary on page 2.

Filed: 10/08/99180th Day: 4/04/00Extended to: 4/21/00Staff: Hale-VStaff Report: 3/30/00Hearing Date: 4/12/00Previous Hearing: 1/13/00Commission Action:

CDP Application 4-98-334 (Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy)Ramirez Canyon Park

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LOCAL APPROVALS RECEIVED: The proposed project is a State facility within theCity of Malibu; however, the City does not have a certified Local Coastal Program andthus lacks the land use regulatory authority over the project that would otherwise beconferred upon the City through the Coastal Act.

SUBSTANTIVE FILE DOCUMENTS: Certified Malibu/Santa Monica Mountains LandUse Plan (LUP) and associated certified maps; revised project description packetsubmitted by applicant dated December 8, 1999, further revised project descriptionsubmitted by applicant dated March 6, 2000; Grading, Drainage, and BMPImprovements at Proposed Parking Areas, revised draft dated March 20, 2000,prepared by Penfield & Smith; Septic System Analysis prepared by Penfield & Smith,dated March 9, 2000; Ramirez Canyon Road Bridge Analysis, prepared by Penfield &Smith, dated March 22, 2000; California Department of Fish and Game determinationthat no streambed alteration agreement is required for proposed bridge reinforcements,dated March 16, 2000; Water Quality Analysis prepared by Penfield and Smith, datedMarch 9, 2000, Revenue/cost summary for site operations submitted by applicant onMarch 27, 2000, and previous substantive file documents cited in 1/13/00 staff report,herein incorporated by reference.

LIST of EXHIBITS: See Attachment A.

Executive Summary

At the Commission’s direction, Commission staff prepared a recommendation regardingthe proposed project for Commission consideration at the January 13, 2000 Commissionmeeting (staff report dated December 21, 1999). At that hearing, the Commission notedthat a number of studies commissioned by the applicant were in progress (for example,an evaluation of the condition and capacity of the aging septic systems, water qualitytests, parking capacity analysis, and a structural analysis of the wooden access bridgeon Ramirez Canyon Road). The Commission directed staff to prepare a subsequentrecommendation for the April 2000 hearing, anticipating that the pending analyses wouldbe completed by that time, and the results available to better inform the Commission’sultimate decisions regarding the applicant’s proposal.

In addition, the Commission directed staff to further address traffic impacts on RamirezCanyon Road, fire safety, septic system capacity/design, and other planning concernsraised by the applicant’s proposal in the subsequent staff report. The applicantconsented to a 90-day extension of time to accommodate the Commission’s proposedhearing schedule.

Since the January, 2000 meeting the applicant has submitted: a) the results of the septicsystem evaluation, b) the results of up- and downstream tests of Ramirez Canyon Creek,


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c) an engineering evaluation of the wooden bridge on Ramirez Canyon Road, d) arevised parking and fire/emergency access plan for the subject site, e) a traffic analysis,f) an amended project description to incorporate an event schedule, install a new, state-of-the-art wastewater treatment and recycled water disposal system, and to reinforcethe wooden bridge south of the site entrance, and g) a summary of the operatingcosts/revenues associated with the park.

The revised project description seeks approval for:

q 32 special events per year (March through October only):(16 events for up to150 guests per event, March, and August through October)(16 events for up to 200 guests per event, April through July)No more than one special event per week,

q 8 tours per month, (40-person maximum per tour) (all year),q 4 small gatherings per month (40-person maximum per gathering) (all year),q 10 outreach programs per month (proposed as a maximum, for up to 40 participants)

(all year).

The applicant’s project description contains detailed plans for emergency response,event operating restrictions, etc. The revised project description includes the addition ofa second ranger at events with more than 100 guests, adds the month of August to thedefined peak fire season, sets forth the minimum number of 15-occupant vans that mustbe provided for non-fire season special event shuttles (a measure that will furtherminimize traffic on Ramirez Canyon Road), and provides measures to limit and track thenumber of vehicles at each event. The proposed uses for the five existing residenceshave not changed since the January 2000 hearing. The complete, revised projectdescription is attached as Exhibit 1.

The Conservancy seeks authorization for up to 16 revenue-generating events and 10non-revenue-generating events per month during the special event season (Marchthrough October), and for up to 12 revenue-generating events and 10 non-revenue-generating events per month during the remainder of the year. As shown on Exhibit 8,the Conservancy asserts that they need the proposed number of commercial events toprovide funding for the operation, maintenance and landscaping costs for the site as wellas for the proposed new outreach events.

The staff also notes that the applicant assured the Commission at the January meetingthat a complete coastal development permit application for unpermitted streambedalteration performed within the Ramirez Canyon Creek corridor prior to theConservancy’s acquisition of the subject site would be submitted prior to the April, 2000Commission meeting. The application had not been received prior to the publication ofthis report; however, the applicant’s representatives have assured staff that the Aprildeadline will be met.


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Concerns raised at previous hearing. The Commission, Commission staff, and thepublic have raised a number of issues which can generally be placed in a few categories,as follows:

Safety, including emergency response to fires in the canyon, evacuation issues, shelter-in-place considerations, and alternative route: See Special Conditions 1, 6, 10, and 11 inparticular, and Section B of findings, commencing on page 18.

Septic/Water Quality, including existing system capacity, adequacy of septic systemcomponents the applicant proposes to retain, stream contamination potential,environmental health department review, use of portable toilets: See Special Condition 8and Section C of the findings, commencing on page 27.

Traffic/Transportation, including traffic management plan, traffic restrictions, site uses,van protocol on Ramirez Canyon Road, prohibition on honking, road maintenance dues:See Special Conditions 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 13 and findings in Sections A and B.

Site Operations and Neighborhood Character Issues, including noise, hours ofoperation and event breakdown, and provision of schedules in advance to homeowners:See Special Conditions 1, 2, 3, 14, and 15 and findings in Section E, commencing onpage 35.

Staff Note:

Preliminary Injunction obtained by the City of Malibu

The City of Malibu filed suit against the Conservancy in November 1999, alleging that theConservancy was holding commercial events at its Ramirez Canyon property in violationof the Coastal Act. On March 23, 2000, the Superior Court issued a preliminaryinjunction prohibiting the Conservancy from holding commercial events at the propertyuntil a further order is issued by the Court.

Analysis of Appeal No. A-3-SLO-98-025 (Applicant: Scoggins)

At the Commission’s previous hearing on this application (January 13, 2000), theCommission asked staff to review the Commission’s decision in Appeal No. A-3-SLO-98-025 (Applicant: Scoggins). In that case, the Commission found substantial issue andultimately denied a coastal development permit for a proposal to hold up to 12 “events”(such as weddings) per year on a 14-acre parcel zoned and used for agriculture, nearMorro Bay, in San Luis Obispo County. The Commission found that the proposal wasinconsistent with Local Coastal Program (LCP) policies limiting non-agricultural uses onland zoned for agriculture. The Commission found that the project would result inpermanent loss of agricultural land; was not necessary to support continued agricultural


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use of the site; and was not one of the priority uses identified in the LCP when asupplemental use is needed to support continued agricultural use.

Because the County of San Luis Obispo has a certified LCP, the standard of review inScoggins was whether the proposed project was consistent with the policies andprovisions of the certified Land Use Plan and implementing measures. As noted above,the proposed project was not consistent with specific policies—particularly related toagricultural land uses—set forth in the County’s certified LCP.

The project proposed by the Conservancy is located within the City of Malibu. Unlike theCounty of San Luis Obispo, the City of Malibu does not have a certified LCP. Therefore,the standard of review for the pending application is whether the proposed project isconsistent with the applicable policies of the Coastal Act. As discussed below, the staffhas determined that the proposed project, as conditioned, is consistent with the CoastalAct.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

I. STAFF RECOMMENDATION OF APPROVAL:

Staff recommends that the Commission adopt the resolution set forth below, via thefollowing motion:

A. MOTION:

I move that the Commission approve Coastal Development Permit 4-98-334pursuant to the staff recommendation.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends a YES vote. Passage of this motion will result in approval of thepermit as conditioned and adoption of the following resolution and findings. The motionpasses only by affirmative vote of a majority of the Commissioners present.

B. RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE PERMIT

The Commission hereby approves a coastal development permit for the proposeddevelopment and adopts the findings set forth below on grounds that the development asconditioned will be in conformity with the policies of Chapter 3 of the Coastal Act and willnot prejudice the ability of the local government having jurisdiction over the area toprepare a Local Coastal Program conforming to the provisions of Chapter 3. Approval ofthe permit complies with the California Environmental Quality Act because either 1)feasible mitigation measures and/or alternatives have been incorporated to substantiallylessen any significant adverse effects of the development on the environment, or 2) there


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are no further feasible mitigation measures or alternatives that would substantially lessenany significant adverse impacts of the development on the environment.

II. Standard Conditions

1. Notice of Receipt and Acknowledgment. The permit is not valid and developmentshall not commence until a copy of the permit, signed by the permittee or authorizedagent, acknowledging receipt of the permit and acceptance of the terms and conditions,is returned to the Commission office.

2. Expiration. If development has not commenced, the permit will expire two yearsfrom the date on which the Commission voted on the application. Development shall bepursued in a diligent manner and completed in a reasonable period of time. Applicationfor extension of the permit must be made prior to the expiration date.

3. Compliance. All development must occur in strict compliance with the proposal asset forth below. Any deviation from the approved plans must be reviewed and approvedby the staff and may require Commission approval.

4. Interpretation. Any questions of intent or interpretation of any term or condition willbe resolved by the Executive Director or the Commission.

5. Inspections. The Commission staff shall be allowed to inspect the site and thedevelopment during construction, subject to 24-hour advance notice.

6. Assignment. The permit may be assigned to any qualified person, providedassignee files with the Commission an affidavit accepting all terms and conditions of thepermit.

7. Terms and Conditions: See Special Condition 17.

III. Special Conditions

1. Approved Site Uses

The following uses of the subject site are approved pursuant to Coastal DevelopmentPermit 4-98-334, subject to the restrictions set forth in the applicable special conditions:

A. Park administrative offices for the Conservancy and Mountains Recreation andConservation Authority (MRCA) (all of Barwood facility and upper story of Barnfacility);

B. Ranger residence utilized by a ranger charged with security and public safety duties;


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C. Public improvements for the proposed new trail and creekside picnic and recreationareas pursuant to Special Condition 7;

D. Use of the Peach House and Barn facility for small group gatherings and tours for upto 40 participants each, and to a limited extent the Art Deco facility may be used togreet guests or as a component of site tours, but not as a primary site for groupfunctions;

E. Special events, groups, workshops, tours, etc., may be held in accordance with thefollowing standards:

(1) Small group gatherings and site tours: May be conducted year-round, sevendays per week, 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, or until 10:00p.m. on Friday or Saturday, for groups of up to 40 participants, and may not exceed8 tours per month, total, and 4 small group gatherings per month, total. The toursand small group gatherings are not interchangeable, and shall not be recombined indifferent proportions. In accordance with the applicant’s proposal, the premises areprovided free for such gatherings to non-profit organizations, educational groups,and public agencies, and for a fee to for-profit groups. When small group gatheringsand tours are conducted between August 1 and December 31 (peak fire season), allvehicles necessary to evacuate the guests immediately must remain on sitethroughout the event.

(2) Special events: Special events are defined as gatherings of guests numberingmore than 40, and events of any size over 40 may only be held a maximum of oneday per week during the special event season, as specified below, includingweekends and holidays, and shall be restricted to the hours between 8:00 a.m. and9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Friday andSaturday. All guests and event support providers must leave the site no later than10:00 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday and no later than 11:00 p.m. on Friday andSaturday. Special events for up to 200 guests may be conducted between April 1and August 1, on one day per week only, including weekends and holidays. Inaddition, events up to 150 guests maximum may be held on one day per week only,from March 1 through April 1, and from August 1 through October 31 (peak fireseason, which is defined as August 1 through December 31 annually for thepurposes of this permit). In addition, special events during fire season must retainall guest van shuttles and drivers continuously on site during the subject event.Special events for groups of over 40 participants are held outdoors only. No specialevents are held between October 31 and March 1.

F. Outreach events: These programs may be conducted year-round, seven days perweek, from 8:00 a.m. to dusk, and are intended to provide access and recreationopportunities primarily for disadvantaged youths, physically-challenged visitors, andseniors. These programs are provided at no cost to the participants, and theConservancy provides free or low-cost transportation for participants. These eventsare typically accompanied by two docents or rangers and require a limited numberof vans or up to three small transit (RTP) buses to deliver the participants. A


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minimum of ten outreach events shall be conducted each month at Ramirez CanyonPark, or additional outreach programs as feasible, commencing March 1, 2001.

2. Minimum Outreach Program Requirements; Annual Monitoring Report

A. The applicant shall conduct the maximum number of outreach program eventsfeasible between the date of issuance of Coastal Development Permit 4-98-334 andFebruary 28, 2001. Commencing March 1, 2001 the applicant shall conduct aminimum of ten (10) outreach program events per month throughout the year atRamirez Canyon Park.

B. The applicant shall submit an annual site use monitoring report to the ExecutiveDirector by November 15th of each year following permit approval. The report shallinclude a summary of the number and kind of events, tours, small gatherings, andoutreach programs conducted at Ramirez Canyon Park during the previous twelve(12) months, shall distinguish between revenue-generating and non-revenue-generating events, activities, tours and outreach programs, and shall specify thedates, vehicle trip counts, and event sponsor or beneficiary as applicable, for each.

Final Transportation and Parking Management .

3. Traffic Trip Restrictions:

Prior to the issuance of the coastal development permit, the applicant shall submit a finalTransportation and Parking Management Plan for the review and approval of theExecutive Director, which shall incorporate all provisions of the draft Plan dated March 6,2000, in addition to the following:

(a) No off-site public coastal access parking, including but not limited to the Winding WayTrailhead public parking, shall be utilized to satisfy the off-site parking requirementsassociated with Ramirez Canyon Park at any time;

(b) Daily vehicle trips associated with all authorized uses of Ramirez Canyon Park setforth in Special Condition 1 shall be restricted to a maximum of 72 trips each way perday (36 round trips), except that the one weekly Special Event authorized pursuant toSpecial Condition 1 may increase the trip count to a maximum of 80 trips each way(40 round trips) if the event is conducted on a weekday (a regular Conservancy workday);

(c) In addition, up to 6 public outreach trips each way (3 round trips), such as for RTPbuses, senior center vans, or docent vehicles, may be added daily in excess of thelimits set forth in (b) above, except on the day of a combined specialevent/Conservancy work day that already exceeds the 72-trip limit each way.

4. Off-site Van Shuttle/Carpool Parking:


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The final Transportation and Parking Management Plan shall include evidence that offsiteparking provisions for groups of up to 200 guests are available at private parkinglocations for visitors boarding van shuttles or consolidating carpools to Ramirez CanyonPark. The applicant shall submit evidence to the satisfaction of the Executive Directorthat a sufficient bank of such parking is generally available to accommodate the demandsof the authorized uses of Ramirez Canyon Park, without displacing the current parkinguse of the designated locations. The necessary evidence to achieve compliance with thisrequirement shall consist of the following, at a minimum, and any additional evidence thatthe Executive Director deems reasonable, and shall be updated as needed and madeavailable to the Executive Director upon request, throughout the term of CoastalDevelopment Permit 4-98-334:

(a) A letter from the owner and operator of the designated private parking areasdocumenting the total supply of parking potentially available at each location, and theauthority (unless written by the owner) and willingness to grant permission for use ofthe subject spaces during the typical hours/days of parking demand associated withthe uses of Ramirez Canyon Park authorized pursuant to Special Condition 1;

(b) Prior to the issuance of any permit or contract for the use of Ramirez Canyon Park,the applicant shall require the presentation of evidence in the form of a writtenagreement between the applicable parking area owner and/or operator and theRamirez Canyon Park special event (or other activity) sponsor that sufficient off siteprivate parking has been secured. If such agreement cannot be obtained then thespecial event or other proposed activity cannot be held.

5. Protocol on Ramirez Canyon Road

(a) Prior to the issuance of the coastal development permit, the applicant shall place aclearly visible sign at the entrance gate to Ramirez Canyon Park forbidding honkingexcept in cases of emergency;

(b) The final Transportation and Parking Management Plan shall incorporate therequirement that van shuttles minimize the total number of isolated trips on RamirezCanyon Road by traveling fully loaded with passengers, and in convoys, to themaximum extent feasible.


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6. Final Emergency Access and On-Site Parking Plan:

A. Prior to the issuance of Coastal Development Permit 4-98-334 the applicant shallsubmit for the review and approval of the Executive Director a revised On-SiteEmergency Access, Parking and Best Management Practices Plan prepared by alicensed civil engineer and approved by the Los Angeles County Fire Department asadequate to comply with applicable state and county fire and life safety regulations.

B. All vehicles at Ramirez Canyon Park must use the appropriate designated parkingareas identified in the approved Plan.

C. All improvement to accessways, roads, parking, placement of signage, or otherrequirements contained in the Plan required herein must be completed within thirty(30) days of the issuance of Coastal Development Permit 4-98-334, or within suchadditional time as the Executive Director may allow for good cause.

D. Measures to prevent pollution of Ramirez Canyon Creek by vehicle use of the siteshall be addressed pursuant to Special Condition 18 herein.

E. Any substantial changes to the Emergency Access and On Site Parking Plan, otherthan what is specifically outlined in this special condition, or required elsewherewithin these Special Conditions, shall require an amendment to the permit. TheExecutive Director shall determine whether proposed changes are substantial.

7. Assumption of Risk

A. By acceptance of this permit, the applicant acknowledges and agrees (1) that the sitemay be subject to hazards from flooding, erosion or wildfire; (ii) to assume the risksto the applicant and the property that is the subject of this permit or injury anddamage from such hazards in connection with this permitted development; (iii) tounconditionally waive any claim of damage or liability against the Commission, itsofficers, agents, and employees for injury or damage from such hazards; and (iv) toindemnify and hold harmless the Commission, its officers, agents, and employeeswith respect to the Commission’s approval of the project against any and all liability,claims, demands, damages, costs (including costs and fees incurred in defense ofsuch claims), expenses, and amounts paid in settlement arising from any injury ordamage due to such hazards. The Commission understands that a legislativeappropriation would be required to enable the Conservancy to make the paymentsreferred to in Section (iv) above.

B. Prior to the issuance of the Coastal Development Permit 4-98-334, the applicant shallsubmit a written agreement, in a form and content acceptable to the ExecutiveDirector, incorporating all of the above terms of this condition.


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8. Final Septic Disposal System Abandonment and New Wastewater Treatmentand Recycled Water System Installation Plan

Prior to the issuance of Coastal Development Permit 4-98-334, the applicant shall submita final Plan that shall include the components set forth below, for the review and approvalof the Executive Director. The Executive Director shall review the final Plan in consultationwith the City of Malibu Environmental Health Department, the County of Los AngelesEnvironmental Health Department, or a qualified registered environmental sanitarian ofthe Executive Director’s choice. The final Plan shall:

(a) Incorporate all recommendations set forth in the Septic System Analysis preparedby Penfield & Smith, dated March 9, 2000;

(b) Provide for the permanent abandonment of the idle septic system and leachfieldslocated beneath the tennis court, of the leachfield presently serving Barwood, and ofthe leachfields and/or pits and septic tanks presently serving Barn and Peachbuildings. All abandonment plans shall conform with the standards of the UniformPlumbing Code;

(c) Provide for the installation of a new, on site wastewater treatment system andrecycled water reuse program, including a landscape/orchard planting andmanagement plan designed to maintain sufficient evapotranspiration capacity toprovide for the maximum effluent production of the site during all potential seasonalconditions, as proposed in the Septic System Analysis and Recommendationsprepared by Penfield and Smith and dated March 9, 2000;

(d) Provide for the installation and maintenance on site of such emergency powergenerators and fuel supply necessary to maintain the wastewater treatment system(in addition to emergency lighting) continuously for at least twelve (12) hours duringan interruption of conventional power supplies;

(e) Provide for the quarterly analysis of water samples drawn immediately up- anddown-stream of the subject site for a minimum of four quarters of availablestreamflow (streamflow in Ramirez Canyon Creek is intermittent). The testingschedule shall commence with the first quarter of available streamflow following theinstallation of the new wastewater treatment system. The samples shall be analyzedto determine fecal coliform concentration, and the results shall be submittedquarterly to the Executive Director. If the results of the one year analysis areadverse or inconclusive, the Executive Director shall require that additional waterquality analyses be performed and that the following measures be implemented:

(1) Within thirty (30) days following a second water test that shows downgradientbacterial counts to be elevated above the upgradient baseline samples tested,the applicant shall submit a plan, including a timeline for implementation, for thefurther evaluation of the performance of the septic disposal systems associated


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with the ranger residence and the Art Deco building, for the review and approvalof the Executive Director;

(2) If the results of the approved septic review plan fail to rule out the subject septicsystems as a potential source of elevated fecal coliform counts downstream ofRamirez Canyon Park, the applicant shall within thirty (30) days following thecompletion of the review according to the approved timeline, submit a completepermit application to abandon these systems and further upgrade the newwastewater treatment system to accept and treat the effluent from the rangerresidence and/or the Art Deco building, as indicated.

9. Future Development

This permit is only for the development described in Coastal Development Permit 4-98-334. Pursuant to Title 14 California Code of Regulations sections 13250(b)(6) and13253(b)(6), the exemptions otherwise provided in Public Resources Code section30610(a) and (b) shall not apply to the entire parcel. Accordingly, any futureimprovements to the subject structures or lands, or changes in the kinds or intensities ofthe uses of the subject site permitted by Permit No. 4-98-334, including but not limited toclearing of vegetation and grading, which might otherwise be exempt from coastalpermitting requirements, shall require an amendment to Permit No. 4-98-334 from theCommission or shall require an additional coastal development permit from theCommission or from the applicable certified local government.

10. Final Fire Management and Evacuation Plan

Prior to the issuance of Coastal Development Permit 4-98-334, the applicant shall submita final Fire Management and Evacuation Plan, subject to the review and approval of theExecutive Director, that shall incorporate the components set forth below. Alldevelopment and activities at the site shall be conducted in compliance with the approvedplan.

A. Fire/Safety Review: Prior to the issuance of Coastal Development Permit 4-98-334,the applicant shall submit evidence to the satisfaction of the Executive Director thatthe State Fire Marshal and the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Division of Fireand Life Safety, have evaluated the Final Fire Management and Evacuation Plan andhave determined that implementation of the Plan will achieve compliance with allapplicable fire and life safety regulations, requirements, and recommendations.

B. Annual Fuel Modification: The final Plan shall incorporate the requirement that theapplicant shall annually submit evidence to the Los Angeles County Fire Department,Forestry Division, that all applicable fuel modifications requirements on site, and themaintenance of the required 13 ft. 6 inches of vertical vegetation clearance alongRamirez Canyon Road, Delaplane Road, and Winding Way, have been implemented


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prior to the impending fire season. Such evidence shall in no case be submitted laterthan June 15 of the pertinent year.

C. Emergency Power Generation: The plan shall provide for sufficient emergencygenerator(s) and fuel to be placed on site and maintained in good working order at alltimes to supply emergency power to Ramirez Canyon Park for a minimum of twelve(12) hours.

D. Cancellations Due to Hazardous Conditions: The plan shall include the requirementthat all events or activities at Ramirez Canyon Park, whether revenue- or non-revenuegenerating, will be cancelled if the National Weather Service (a division of the NationalOceanic and Atmospheric Administration – NOAA), or other state or federal hazardmonitoring authority issues a “red flag” or other similar warning for fire, storm, orflood hazard for the area where Ramirez Canyon Park is located. It shall be theapplicant’s daily responsibility to monitor and obtain the applicable advisories and toimmediately cancel any activity at Ramirez Canyon Park scheduled for a day affectedby an adverse hazard warning. In addition, the applicant shall provide written notice toall potential event or activity sponsors that reservations for Ramirez Canyon Park useare made subject to cancellation when hazard alerts or weather warnings are issued,up to and including on the scheduled day, and potentially without prior notice. Thewritten notice must be provided to the event or activity sponsor prior to issuance ofany written approval, contract or permit, as applicable, authorizing the use of RamirezCanyon Park.

11. Wooden Bridge Reinforcement Plan

A. Prior to the issuance of Coastal Development Permit 4-98-334, the applicant shallsubmit a construction plan to undertake the wooden bridge reinforcement measuresidentified by Penfield & Smith in the bridge deck analysis dated February 22, 2000.The plan shall prohibit construction if water is flowing in the creek, that a staging areaoutside of the riparian canopy is identified and flagged for construction workers andto store materials, that the zone of impact to riparian vegetation surrounding thebridge and bridge footings is strictly limited to that area necessary for access by nomore than three workers who shall use only hand tools. The plan shall provide for themonitoring of construction activities by a qualified botanist approved by the ExecutiveDirector, and the botanist shall brief construction workers on resource damageavoidance prior to the commencement of any on site activities.

B. Bridge reinforcement shall be completed no later than thirty (30) days after issuanceof this coastal development permit. Within ten (10) working days after the completionof the bridge reinforcements the applicant shall provide written evidence, to thesatisfaction of the Executive Director, that the consulting licensed civil engineer andthe Los Angeles County Fire Department, Division of Fire and Life Safety, haveapproved the final bridge reinforcements and concluded that the bridge will safelysupport a 25-ton fire truck for the length of time necessary for such a truck to cross


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the bridge. The Executive Director may extend the applicable time lines for goodcause.

12. Ramirez Canyon Park barrier-free trail and recreation facility.

In accordance with the applicant’s proposal, prior to the issuance of CoastalDevelopment Permit 4-98-334, the applicant shall submit for the review and approval ofthe Executive Director, a plan prepared by a licensed civil engineer, and in consultationwith National Park Service, to provide a barrier-free natural area interpretive trail andcreekside picnic and recreational facility within the newly designated Ramirez CanyonPark and adjacent National Park Service lands. All facilities and amenities contained inthe plan or required for the safe use of the facility by physically-challenged visitors shallbe incorporated into the plan and shall comply with Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)requirements, including trails, picnic facilities, drinking fountains, restrooms, and parkingareas. The applicant shall additionally submit evidence that the plan has been approvedby the State Architect as ADA-compliant, unless the Office of the State Architectindicates that it has no applicable standards, in which case the applicant shall submitevidence that the National Park Service has approved the plan as ADA-compliant.

The Plan shall not incorporate grading (other than minor trail grooming) or vegetationremoval within 100 feet of the outer riparian canopy or the top of streambank where nocanopy exists, of Ramirez Canyon Creek. If the plan requires significant grading for thetrail or trail-related facilities, or construction within the setback areas, removal of nativevegetation, or the construction of new restrooms or new parking areas not existing orapproved in this permit, the applicant must obtain either an amendment to CoastalDevelopment Permit 4-98-334 or a new coastal development permit.

The applicant shall implement the construction and opening of the barrier-free trail andrecreation facility within sixty (60) days of issuance of Coastal Development Permit 4-98-334 or within such additional time as the Executive Director may deem warranted.

13. Payment of Road Maintenance Dues to Ramirez Canyon HomeownersAssociation.

The applicant shall annually pay its share of dues assessed to members of the RamirezCanyon Homeowners Association, calculated on the basis of six lots, for the purpose ofmaintaining Ramirez Canyon Road, which is a privately owned and maintained road.

14. Notice of Event Schedule to Homeowners Association

The applicant shall provide a monthly schedule of forthcoming events to the RamirezCanyon Homeowners Association no less than one month in advance. The ExecutiveDirector may suspend this requirement at the request of the applicant if such notice ismisused to disrupt events or activities scheduled at Ramirez Canyon Park, or to harassdrivers and guests as they travel to the site.


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15. Amplified Music/Noise Restriction

A. Amplified music shall only be provided in the special event meadow locatedimmediately in front of the Barn facility and at no time shall amplified music be audiblebeyond the property boundaries adjacent to residential development. In addition, MRCArangers on duty during such events shall check sound levels hourly at the site boundariesnearest adjacent residential development and shall immediately ensure volume reductionto achieve this standard should it be exceeded.

B. Amplified music shall not be allowed anywhere on the subject site after 8:00 p.m.Sunday through Thursday evenings or after 10:00 p.m. on Friday or Saturday evenings.

C. Special event sponsors shall be provided written notice of these amplified musicrestrictions prior to entering into a contract for rental of the facility.

16. Condition Compliance (after-the-fact development)

Within 120 days of Commission action on this coastal development permit application, orwithin such additional time as the Executive Director may grant for good cause, theapplicant shall satisfy all requirements specified in the conditions hereto that the applicantis required to satisfy prior to issuance of this permit, except for such additional time asmay otherwise be specified within applicable special conditions.

17. Termination of Uses

The authorization in Coastal Development Permit No. 4-98-334 for the use of the site asConservancy administrative headquarters and offices, and for use of the site forworkshops, conferences, meetings, tours, and special events shall terminate if the site isno longer owned by the Conservancy or successor State agency. If the site is no longerowned by the Conservancy or successor State agency, the new owner may only use thesite for residential purposes, and may not undertake any of the uses listed above on thesite, unless a new coastal development permit is applied for and obtained that authorizessuch additional use(s).

18. Drainage and Polluted Runoff Control Plan

Prior to the issuance of Coastal Development Permit 4-98-334, the applicant shall submitfor the review and approval of the Executive Director, a drainage and polluted runoffcontrol plan for the on site roadways, turnouts, and parking areas. The plan shall beprepared by a licensed civil engineer and shall employee all feasible, best managementpractices to minimize the volume, velocity and pollutant load of stormwater leaving thedeveloped areas of the site. The plan shall include but not be limited to the followingcriteria:


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(a) Post-development peak runoff rates and average volumes shall not exceed pre-development conditions.

(b) Runoff from all parking areas, turnouts, and driveways shall be collected anddirected through a system of vegetated and/or gravel filter strips or other mediafilter devices. The filter elements shall be designed to 1) trap sediment, particulatesand other solids and 2) remove or mitigate contaminants through infiltration and/orbiological uptake. The drainage system shall also be designed to convey anddischarge runoff in excess of this standard from the building site in a non-erosivemanner.

(c) The plan shall include provisions for maintaining the drainage and filtration systemsso that they are functional throughout the life of the approved development. Suchmaintenance shall include the following: (1) the drainage and filtration system shallbe inspected, cleaned and repaired prior to the onset of the storm season, no laterthan September 30th each year and (2) should any of the project’s surface orsubsurface drainage/filtration structures fail or result in increased erosion, theapplicant/landowner or successor-in-interest shall be responsible for any necessaryrepairs to the drainage/filtration system and restoration of the eroded area.

IV. Findings and Declarations

The Commission hereby finds and declares:

A. Project Description; Background; Environmental Setting

The proposed project is located on approximately 22.5 acres at the end of RamirezCanyon Road, City of Malibu, County of Los Angeles. The site contains five single familyresidences on six separate lots and was donated as a unit to the Santa MonicaMountains Conservancy (hereafter, “Conservancy” or “applicant”), a state agency, byBarbra Streisand in December, 1993. Originally named the “Streisand Center forConservancy Studies,” the site was recently re-named “Ramirez Canyon Park.”

In addition to the residences, the site contains extensive hardscaping, such as brick-linedroadways, river rock retaining walls, paths, a turf meadow, tennis courts, swimming pool,decks, courtyards, and extensive non-native ornamental landscaping, terraced orchards,and vegetable gardens. The site is bounded on three sides by the Santa MonicaMountains Recreation Area, owned by the National Park Service. South of the site,Ramirez Canyon is designated for, and partially developed with, single family residences.


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Environmental Setting

The canyon containing Ramirez Canyon Park is situated in the Malibu area of the SantaMonica Mountains, and surrounded by typical chaparral vegetation on the dry slopesabove the site. The Mediterranean climate of the Santa Monica Mountains usually bringscool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The late summer and fall seasons are oftenaccompanied by hot, dry winds known as the “Santa Ana’s.” These winds blow towardthe sea – opposite the usual prevailing direction of the cooler, offshore breezes – andsometimes drive rapidly spreading wildfires down the brushy canyon slopes.

Ramirez Canyon drains into a riparian corridor designated as a blueline stream on U.S.Geological Survey quadrangle maps. The creek bisects Ramirez Canyon Park andsupports a remnant riparian canopy of mature sycamores and scattered oaks on thehighly modified park grounds. Ramirez Canyon Creek is designated as anEnvironmentally Sensitive Habitat Area (ESHA) on the certified Malibu/Santa MonicaMountains Land Use Plan (LUP) Resource Maps. The riparian corridor flanking the creekis designated as a Locally Disturbed Sensitive Resource Area (DSR) in the LUP.

Downstream from the site, the creek meanders through the residential areas frontingRamirez Canyon Road. In this portion of the riparian corridor, the streambed has beensignificantly altered, in some places channelized, and contains two concrete-lined Arizonacrossings.

Stream Corridor Alteration

The portion of the stream corridor traversing Ramirez Canyon Park was extensivelyaltered by the previous owner, who also placed architectural stone walls along the banksof the stream, and installed extensive plantings of non-native vegetation throughout thesite, without the benefit of a coastal development permit. This report does not addressthe unpermitted physical alterations of the site that have taken place in the past.

The applicant agreed at the Commission’s January 2000 hearing to submit a completeapplication for the unauthorized riparian corridor development on or before theCommission’s April 2000 meeting. The applicant’s representatives have informed staffthat the application preparation is progressing on schedule.

Change of Land Use; Implementation of Outreach Program

The present report addresses the Conservancy’s proposed use of the formerlyresidential estate for administrative headquarters, revenue-generating special events,tours, and small group gatherings, and for the Conservancy’s proposed outreachprograms for disadvantaged youth, physically challenged visitors, and/or seniors.

Trails

No designated trail corridors cross the proposed site. The Coastal Slope Trail, a mainartery of the trail network for pedestrian and equestrian users in the Malibu/SantaMonica Mountains area, crosses Ramirez Canyon Road in one location. As part of thepresent proposal, the Conservancy proposes to construct a barrier-free, creeksideinterpretive trail and picnic facilities for the benefit of physically-challenged visitors.


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Amended Project Description

The applicant has amended the proposed project description twice since the publicationof the first Commission staff report (dated October 14, 1999) and the staff report for theJanuary 2000 Commission meeting (report dated December 21, 1999). The most recentproject description is dated March 6, 2000 and is attached hereto as Exhibit 1. Notably,the amendment caps revenue-generating events and activities on a monthly basis,incorporates all requirements and regulations of fire and life safety review authorities,and includes the Conservancy’s proposal to conduct up to ten (10) outreach programsper month, among other changes noted below.

Facilities:

The applicant presently proposes to use the site and its five existing residences asfollows (see Exhibit 11):

“Barwood” (5775 Ramirez Canyon Rd.), a 3,500 sq. ft. single family residence to beused for Conservancy Headquarters and administrative support functions. A total offourteen Conservancy employees and two maintenance staff routinely work at the site,and seven Conservancy employees have offices located in this building;

“Peach House” (5750 Ramirez Canyon Rd.), a 4,900 sq. ft. single family residence, foruse for special events. Three Conservancy employees have offices located in the middlelevel;

“The Barn” (5750 Ramirez Canyon Rd.), a 3,370 sq. ft. single family residence built as a“guest house” to the Peach House on the same lot, for use for special events on the firstfloor and for offices for four staff members in the upper and back portions of thestructure;

“Art Deco” (5802 Ramirez Canyon Rd.), a 4,600 sq. ft. single family residence, for usefor receiving visitors and shown as part of site tours (40-person events are not held inthis building);

“Caretaker Residence” (5800 Ramirez Canyon Rd.), a 1,350 sq. ft. single familyresidence, for continued residential use for the on-site MRCA ranger and family.

Schedule of Events

The present application, as amended in accordance with the revised project descriptioncontained in Exhibit 1, seeks authorization to conduct a monthly total of 10 outreachevents, 4 large special events, 8 site tours, and 4 small group gatherings. As stated inSpecial Condition 1, the approved numbers per month of small group gatherings, sitetours, and special events cannot be recombined or substituted to achieve differentproportions. For example, if only 4 tours were scheduled in a given month, 8 smallgatherings could not be held to make use of the 4 authorized tours that were notscheduled for that month. In addition, only one special event may be held per week, andadditional special events can not be held in lieu of other authorized events in any month.

During the non-special event season, the revenue-generating activities would be reducedfrom 16 per month to 12 per month, while outreach programs would continue at a total of


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10 per month. The applicant’s previous proposal evaluated in the December 1999 staffreport proposed a more elaborate system of traffic trip counts to modulate site use,whereas the present proposal additionally sets limits on the number of events percategory. Additional non-revenue and public outreach activities could be added to theproposed schedule provided restrictions on vehicle trip counts and other applicablerequirements are met.

Public Access Trail

As noted above, the applicant amended the project description last fall to include a newpublic access and outreach component. The Conservancy proposes to construct abarrier-free riparian area interpretive trail and picnic facilities north of the Barn facility.The gentle terrain that characterizes the proposed trail area extends to the adjacentNational Park Service lands and offers relatively undisturbed creekside interpretiveareas. The trail concept described by the Conservancy will provide an outdoor accessopportunity for mobility-impaired visitors who are rarely able enjoy the natural areasreadily available to other visitors in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Proposed New Wastewater Treatment Facility

Since the January 2000 hearing, the applicant has completed water quality studies andin-depth evaluations of the existing septic disposal systems serving the residences underconsideration for alternative uses. In light of problems detected by the applicant in thesestudies (undercapacity of existing systems, inconclusive water quality analyses, forexample) the applicant now proposed to install a new, state of the art wastewatertreatment system that will produce high quality recycled water from septic effluent anddischarge the water into the terraced orchards. The new system would serve theBarwood, Barn, and Peach houses.

The upgraded septic disposal system can effectively receive and treat the effluent thatwould be generated by a 200-person event (the maximum proposed event size),however, the applicant proposes only to utilize the system for the effluent generated bythe office use of the three associated structures and for the 40-person-maximum smallgroup gatherings and tours. Events for more than 40 guests, and all public outreachprogram activities, will be required to use a bank of three portable toilets that will remaincontinuously on site and will be serviced approximately once per week by a pump truck.The portable toilets are designed to provide handwashing facilities and to meethandicapped access standards.

Comparison to Appeal No. A-3-SLO-98-025 (Applicant: Scoggins)

On October 14, 1998, the Commission denied a coastal development permit (Appeal No.A-3-SLO-98-025, Applicant: Scoggins) to conduct special events on land zoned andused for agriculture. The Commission found substantial issue and ultimately denied apermit for a proposal to hold up to 12 “events” (such as weddings) per year on a 14-acreparcel zoned for agriculture, near Morro Bay, in San Luis Obispo County. TheCommission found that the proposal was inconsistent with Local Coastal Program (LCP)policies limiting non-agricultural uses on land zoned for agriculture. The Commissionfound that the project would result in permanent loss of agricultural land; was not


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necessary to support continued agricultural use of the site; and was not one of thepriority uses identified in the LCP when a supplemental use is needed to supportcontinued agricultural use.

Because the County of San Luis Obispo has a certified LCP, the standard of review waswhether the proposed project was consistent with the policies and provisions of thecertified Land Use Plan and implementing measures. As noted above, the proposedproject was not consistent with specific policies—particularly related to agricultural landuses—set forth in the County’s certified LCP.

In contrast, the project proposed by the Conservancy is located within the City of Malibu.Unlike the County of San Luis Obispo, the City of Malibu does not have a certified LCP.Therefore, the standard of review for the pending application is whether the proposedproject is consistent with the applicable policies of the Coastal Act. Based on thediscussion below, the Commission determined that the proposed project, as conditioned,is consistent with the Coastal Act.

B. Hazards

Section 30253 of the Coastal Act states in pertinent part that new development shallminimize risks to life and property in areas of high geologic, flood, and fire hazard.

Wildfire threat

The proposed project is located in the Santa Monica Mountains, an area subject to anumber of natural hazards, including landslides, erosion, and flooding. In addition, thechaparral plant community that typically grows on the slopes of the mountain canyons isadapted to natural fire cycles. These cycles statistically result in wildfire return timesaveraging between 12 and 30 years in any single stand of chaparral.

The subject site is located at the end of Ramirez Canyon Road in a relatively steepcanyon, from which no alternative exit route exists. Past evaluations of the possibleconstruction of secondary road construction to nearby Kanaan Dume Road, northwest ofthe site, have identified significant landform alteration, destruction of habitat, and adversevisual impacts that would result. Thus, the construction of an alternative route appears tobe infeasible due to the extent of the anticipated adverse impacts to coastal resourcesposed by such a project.

The chaparral vegetation typical of the Ramirez Canyon area poses an extremely highrisk of wildfire. Many chaparral shrub species store highly flammable terpenes withintheir tissues (Mooney in Barbour, Terrestrial Vegetation of California, 1988). Thecombination of flashy fuels created by concentrated flammable compounds stored in dryleaves and twigs, low humidity, warm temperatures, high “Santa Ana” winds thatoccasionally blow toward the coast, often steep terrain, and the unpredictability ofpotential ignition sources, render the chaparral-covered canyons of the Santa MonicaMountains prime wildfire country.


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As noted, chaparral and coastal sage scrub communities (sometimes referred to as“hard” and “soft” chaparral) have evolved in concert with, and continue to produce thepotential for, frequent fires. The typical warm, dry summer conditions of coastalCalifornia’s Mediterranean climate combine with the natural characteristics of the nativechaparral vegetation to pose a risk of wildfire destruction of property that cannot becompletely avoided or mitigated so long as development is undertaken amidst theseconditions.

As the dry summer fire season progresses (the season may be officially declared asearly as June 1), vegetation becomes desiccated from lack of rain, and by August orSeptember the Santa Ana winds often begin to blow. Reversing the normal direction ofthe typical onshore coastal breezes which ordinarily bring a cooling, marine influence tocoastal canyons, the Santa Ana’s instead send hot, dry interior air sweeping downcanyon slopes toward the sea, drying the native vegetation into tinder.

When these conditions arise, wildfires can be touched off by any source of ignition, andquickly fanned across acres of mountain land. Wildfires may consume hundreds of acresin a few short hours, or in extreme cases, such as the Old Topanga Fire of 1993, mayburn through hundreds of acres in a matter of 15 to 20 minutes.

As noted previously, the canyon slopes and immediate surroundings of the site arevegetated with mature chaparral that has not burned in over twenty-five years, accordingto the Conservancy’s head ranger.

State and County Fire Safety Review

These considerations led Commission staff to convene a meeting with the applicant, theDeputy State Fire Marshal, and the Captain of the Los Angeles County Fire DepartmentFire Safety Division, at Ramirez Canyon Park on December 15, 1999. As a state facility,the site is under the direct review authority of the State Fire Marshal. The State FireMarshal has, in turn, delegated some aspects of fire review (particularly emergencyvehicle access) to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Since the December 1999 site visit, the Conservancy has received extensive feedbackfrom both the State Fire Marshal and the Los Angeles County Fire Department Divisionof Fire and Life Safety, and Division of Forestry. In response, the Conservancy hasincorporated all recommendations and requirements identified by these authorities intothe proposed project, including measures set forth within the revised emergency accessplan and the updated fire management and evacuation plan.

The emergency access component of the plan, for example, incorporates Los AngelesCounty Fire department requirements that on site turnouts, hammerhead turnarounds,parking restrictions for shuttle vans, some on site road resurfacing and widening, and fuelmodification be performed. The County Fire Department also required evidence that thewooden bridge at the end of Ramirez Canyon Road can safely support a 25 ton firetruck. These measures will help to ensure safe ingress and egress for vehicles at alltimes.

Reinforcement of Wooden Bridge


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Captain Jim Jordan of the Los Angeles County Fire Department further determined thatretaining the wooden construction of the bridge across Ramirez Canyon Road next to thepark is acceptable because the bridge is located immediately adjacent to the site andbecause the Conservancy’s foam fire fighting rig could be deployed to defend the bridgeduring a wildfire. Further, Captain Jordan determined that the width of the bridge (12feet) is acceptable because there is ample visual clearance on both sides to ensure thatopposing vehicles can navigate the bridge crossing successfully.

The Conservancy’s consulting civil engineer has evaluated the bridge and determined thatwith the addition of cross supports and other simple measures, the bridge can achievethe necessary standard. The implementation of these measures is required by SpecialCondition 11. Fully implemented, Special Condition 11 will ensure that the bridge cansafely support a 25 ton fire truck for the short period of time necessary for such a truckto cross the bridge. This improvement will provide reliable emergency vehicle access notonly to the site but also to Via Acero residences, who must cross the bridge before ViaAcero splits off from Ramirez Canyon Road.

Ramirez Canyon Road - Emergency Access

At the previous hearing, concerns were raised by a number of speakers that RamirezCanyon Road does not conform to fire code requirements, and thus would be bydefinition inadequate to evacuate Ramirez Canyon Park visitors.

Following the December 15, 1999 site visit at the park, Fire Captain Jordan, in thecompany of representatives from the Conservancy, the State Fire Marshal’s office, andCommission staff, specifically evaluated the entire length of Ramirez Canyon Road andapplicable portions of Delaplane Road and Winding Way) for required emergency vehicleaccess clearances, considering both road width and clearance height. In the fewlocations where the road is less than 20 feet in width, Captain Jordan determined thatthere was either adequate visual clearance or sufficient road shoulder width withacceptable surfaces to ensure safe passage of an emergency vehicle despite thepresence of oncoming traffic.

All overarching tree limbs and brush along the road were inspected and measured byCaptain Jordan and Commission staff to determine whether the required verticalclearance of at least 13 feet 6 inches could be achieved. Captain Jordan concluded thatwith minor pruning or brush thinning, the road from Ramirez Canyon Park and alongDelaplane Road to the private entrance gate, offered acceptable emergency vehicleaccess. In addition, Commission staff concurrently determined that no specimen oaks orsycamores adjacent to Ramirez Canyon Road would require removal or severe limbingthat might threaten the continued health of the trees.


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On Site Fuel Modification

Captain Jordan also determined that the Los Angeles County Fire Department, ForestryDivision would separately review a fuel modification plan for the subject site. As part ofthe amended project description (Exhibit 1), the applicant has provided a ForestryDivision approved plan, which calls for the removal of all non-native pine trees and otherhighly flammable vegetation within a minimum of 100 feet of the existing structures,commencing with those trees that are presently either dead or clearly diseased. Theplan requires the phased removal from the park of all pines, eucalyptus and other locallynon-native species known to carry fire efficiently.

Final Fire Department and State Fire Marshal Review

To ensure that the final emergency access and parking plan, and the final firemanagement and evacuation plan are reviewed for final compliance with all applicablestate and county fire and life safety requirements, Special Conditions 6 and 10 requirethat the applicant submit evidence to the Executive Director that the Los Angeles CountyFire Department, Division of Fire and Life Safety, and the office of the State FireMarshal, as applicable, have approved the final plans. Special Condition 11 requires theapplicant to demonstrate that the Los Angeles County Fire Department has reviewed andapproved the final bridge reinforcements to ensure that emergency response vehiclescan safely cross the bridge to the subject site.

Contingency Shelter-in-Place Plan

The applicant has previously submitted a report entitled “Preliminary Evaluation of FireDepartment Access, Wildland Fire Protection, and Evacuation for the Streisand Centerfor Conservancy Studies” located at 5750-5802 Ramirez Canyon Road, dated June 14,1999, and prepared by Klaus Radtke, Ph.D., Wildland Resource Sciences. That reportrecommends measures to enhance the applicant’s ability to safely shelter site visitors inplace should evacuation during a wildfire prove impossible. The report suggestedsheltering site visitors in place, rather than evacuating them, as the best emergencyresponse to a wildfire in the area.

Commission staff, however, were unconvinced that the older, mainly wood framebuildings on site would provide adequate shelter during a wildfire. Since the firstCommission staff report was prepared for the proposed project last fall, however, theapplicant has substituted site evacuation as the primary response to a wildfire threat tothe park. However, the applicant has incorporated a number of measures recommendedby the Radtke report into the project description, to provide a backup plan for visitorprotection.

As a backup plan in case safe evacuation of park visitors via Ramirez Canyon Road isnot possible, the Conservancy has upgraded the Art Deco building (which is the most fireresistant structure on site), for example replacing the building’s existing panoramic paneglass windows with fire resistant double paned windows.


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In addition, the Conservancy’s head ranger has confirmed that the Art Deco structure islarge enough to shelter more than 200 people, the largest number of guests allowed onsite for special events.

Additional Fire Safety Measures

In addition to specific measures noted above, the applicant also proposes to install a4,500 gallon and a 10,000 gallon water tank on site, and to pump the contents of theexisting swimming pool adjacent to the Art Deco building for extra fire defense watersupplies.

Backup Power Supplies

Loss of power during wildfires – even when the fires are burning relatively far away - isnot uncommon in relatively rural areas served by long tap lines and isolated feedercircuits and substations. These facilities can be disrupted when a wildfire burns through,and prolonged power outages during critical conditions may result.

To ensure that the backup pumping systems and emergency lights will be availableshould power be lost during an emergency, Special Condition 10 requires the applicant toprovide adequate backup generators and fuel for fire fighting efforts and to provideemergency lighting.

The implementation of Special Condition 10 will ensure that lighting at Ramirez CanyonPark is available if an evening event must be evacuated. For example, emergency powersupplies would facilitate ushering large numbers of guests celebrating in the meadowadjacent to the Barn house south to the designated van shuttle parking lot with a reducedlikelihood of panic or injury that could otherwise result from moving a large, uneasygroups of people through unfamiliar terrain in total darkness.

Evacuation Impacts On Ramirez Canyon Road

Residents of Ramirez Canyon Road have raised concerns that an evacuation of a largespecial event at the park would create congestion on the road and reduce their ownability to evacuate safely in a wildfire emergency. The applicant has incorporated anumber of measures into the revised project description to address these concerns,which are also incorporated into Special Conditions 1, 4 and 6. For example, theseconditions require the applicant to deliver all special event guests to the site via one-wayvan shuttles during peak fire season months, which are defined by condition as August 1through December 31, although the season for large special events ends October 31 inaccordance with the applicant’s proposal. The van shuttles would minimize the number ofvehicles necessary to evacuate large events, thereby reducing traffic on Ramirez CanyonRoad during an emergency.


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The required van shuttles accomplish several fire safety objectives. Transportationremains continuously on site to remove the total number of guests immediately, withoutresorting to relay shuttles. Vans are parked on site, as required by Special Condition 6,in one specific area that is designed to permit vans to leave the site efficiently withoutimpeding incoming emergency vehicles.

In addition, guests at special events would be continuously under the supervision of atleast one, and for events over 100 participants, at least two, MRCA rangers. Therangers are fully trained in fire fighting and emergency response procedures. Shouldevacuation become necessary, party guests would be quickly evacuated under theorders and supervision of a ranger.

In addition, guests at Ramirez Canyon Park could be expected to leave quickly upon theorder of the supervising ranger. Guests, unlike residents, have no significant personalproperty or pets to collect prior to evacuation, and would not therefore linger overmatters of understandable concern to residents before boarding shuttle vans to exit thepark. Guests could be expected to board shuttle vans upon the direction of a ranger,and be on their way out of the area in a matter of minutes. Wildfire experiences in thepast, including in Malibu, indicate that homeowners, on the other hand, tend to remainwith their properties longer, seeking to defend homes by hosing down roofs orperforming last minute fuel modification – activities that would not cause temporary sitevisitors at the park to delay departure. It is quite likely, therefore, that site visitors wouldbe evacuated far more quickly than typical residents and would not, therefore, be likelyto arrive at the road at the same time as the typical homeowners.

The Commission also notes that in response to inquiries by Commission staff, the StateFire Marshal has indicated that as many as 200 visitors could be safely evacuated fromthe site provided all requirements identified by the state and local fire and life safetyofficials are addressed. Special Condition 10 requires final approval of the state andcounty fire and life safety review authorities prior to the issuance of Coastal DevelopmentPermit 4-98-334.

Other Concerns: Uncertain Fire Emergency Response from Outside of theCanyon

Area residents have expressed concern that fire fighting equipment is not typicallybrought into the narrow canyon road areas until after a fire has already burned through.This may be true in some circumstances due to the triage method of deployment fireresponse commanders must employ. However, a strategic decision not to sendequipment into Ramirez Canyon before a fire has passed through does not affect theRamirez Canyon Park fire response planning. The Conservancy’s emergencymanagement scenarios do not rely on intervention by County Fire Department fire trucks.The plan relies on site evacuation first, and only secondarily upon MRCA ranger trainingand equipment (use of foam rig, water pumping) and on site preparation (fuelmodification, for example) to increase the defensibility of the site should defense be


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warranted or necessary. The Conservancy only relies upon a shelter in place strategyas a very last resort, and that strategy does not rely on Fire Department intervention.

All of these measures are intended to ensure that the MRCA rangers on duty at the sitewill have ample time to evacuate site visitors. The Conservancy and the Los AngelesCounty Fire Department have indicated that because of the site location and theaccessibility of the MCRA ranger or staff at the Ramirez Canyon Park to up-to-dateinformation regarding wildfires, that it is expected that there will generally be ample timeto evacuate the site.

Potential Safety Benefits to Area Residents

An evacuation of Ramirez Canyon Park could potentially enhance the safe evacuation ofother canyon residents fleeing an approaching fire. For example, MRCA rangers carrychainsaws and other means of clearing roadway blockages (fallen limbs or downedtrees) that could impede evacuation. In addition, MRCA rangers are in radio contact withfire response agencies and would be likely to receive emergency notice to evacuate thesite before other canyon occupants would otherwise learn of the danger. Conservancyguest evacuation would provide early warning and support to other residents who mightotherwise remain unaware of impending danger. Public safety officials are typicallystretched to the limit under such circumstances, and sometimes do not arrive in an areauntil minutes before an evacuation must be undertaken.

The Conservancy’s fuel modification plan also removes non-native, and highly flammablevegetation from the island immediately in front of the site entrance, thereby creating aneighborhood area that would resist the spread of wildfire. This area would be availableas a staging area for emergency vehicles.

In addition, and as previously noted, the required upgrade of the wooden bridge for firetruck support (Special Condition 11), provides significantly enhanced protection for theVia Acero residents, who take access to their street over that bridge before Via Acerosplits off of Ramirez Canyon Road. For these residents, the enhanced ability of thebridge to support a fire truck might not otherwise have been accomplished, and theimprovement could ultimately provide lifesaving emergency response vehicle access totheir residences.

Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Jim Jordan has informed Commission staff thatninety percent (90%) of emergency responses undertaken by his department are formedical emergencies, and therefore the likelihood is far greater that a heart attack orother life threatening medical emergency, rather than a wildfire, would trigger the needfor emergency response vehicles to drive into Ramirez Canyon. Thus, the proposedbridge reinforcements will render the northern end of Ramirez Canyon Road morereliably accessible to emergency response personnel.


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Event Cancellation -- Hazard Warnings

As an additional precaution, the Conservancy states in its revised project description,which is attached in full as Exhibit 1, that it has adopted a policy to cancel any specialevent, tour, or other function on site on those days when a “red-flag” warning of extremefire, flood, or weather hazard has been issued by fire or emergency managementagencies. This policy has been adopted by the Conservancy above and beyond anyapplicable regulation of the State Fire Marshal or Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The Conservancy has explained that such warnings are obtained by monitoring NationalWeather Service bulletins daily, which the MRCA rangers routinely do. A more detailedexplanation of the National Weather Service bulletin written by MRCA Head RangerWalter Young is attached as Exhibit 3.

Special Condition 10 implements the Conservancy’s proposal to cancel events oractivities when hazard warnings are issued, and further requires the Conservancy toprovide written warning of this policy to prospective event sponsors prior to entering intoany binding commitments for park use.

Maintenance of Ramirez Canyon Road

Finally, the Commission notes that proper maintenance of Ramirez Canyon Road isnecessary to keep the road in good condition, and that such maintenance thereforeprovides for emergency response access to the park, as well as providing a safe conduitfor park evacuation under a wildfire threat. Keeping the road operable and safe, asopposed to allowing it to become worn and filled with potholes, provides obvious benefitsfor emergency ingress and egress along all points of the road.

Ramirez Canyon Road is a private road maintained collectively by the residents whoseparcels take access from the road. Funds for this purpose are collected from theproperty owners, who pay approximately $500 per year per lot for this purpose.

Area residents assert that the applicant, although using the road extensively to accessthe site for significant numbers of special events during the past several years, has notpaid its assessments into the road maintenance fund.

Proper maintenance of Ramirez Canyon Road is unlikely to occur if the maintenancefunding obligations of all parties using the road are not fulfilled. To ensure that theConservancy pays its proportionate share into the road maintenance fund, theCommission finds it necessary to impose Special Condition 13 to require that theapplicant annually pay the assessment equivalent for six (6) lots into the Ramirez CanyonRoad maintenance fund managed by the homeowners association. This assessmentequivalent if based on the calculation that the Conservancy’s authorized traffic trips onRamirez Canyon Road have been considered elsewhere in these findings as roughly


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approximating the equivalent use of the road that might be expected by six estate sizedresidences on the applicant’s six legal lots.

Assumption of Risk

Despite the imposition of the applicable special conditions discussed above, and theextensive fire and life safety protection measures incorporated by the applicant in its ownproject description, the Commission has consistently determined that all development inthe Santa Monica Mountains is subject to a risk of wildfire and flooding hazard thatcannot be fully mitigated or avoided. The project site is traversed by Ramirez CanyonCreek, which, during peak precipitation events, can reach or exceed flood stages.Therefore, the Commission finds it necessary to impose Special Condition 7 (Assumptionof Risk). Through Special Condition 7, the applicant acknowledges the nature of the firehazard and flood hazard which exists on the site and which may affect the safety of theproposed project. Moreover, through acceptance of Special Condition 7 the applicantalso agrees to indemnify the Commission, its officers, agents and employees against anyand all expenses or liability arising out of the acquisition, design, construction, operation,maintenance, existence, or failure of the permitted project, including injury or death thatmay occur to visitors to the site or to the applicant’s employees or other parties presentat the site to perform (by way of example, but not limited to) maintenance, construction,or any other purpose. This Condition recognizes that a legislative appropriation would berequired to enable the Conservancy to indemnify the Commission.

Future Development

In addition, the Commission finds it necessary to impose Special Condition 9 (futuredevelopment) to require the applicant to seek an amendment to Coastal DevelopmentPermit 4-98-334 or a new coastal development permit if any development, includingchanges in intensity of use, are proposed in the future. Special Condition 9, ifimplemented, will ensure that such development is reviewed by the Commission or theCommission staff for potential hazards that may be created or exacerbated by theproposal, or that may result in increased hazards to site visitors or employees. Shouldthe Conservancy be unsure as to whether a particular proposed activity would trigger thedefinition of “development” and therefore require an application under this condition, theConservancy may seek a determination from the Executive Director.

For all of the reasons set forth above, the Commission finds that only if the proposedproject is conditioned in accordance with the requirements of Special Conditions 1, 4, 6,7, 9, 10, 11, and 13 would the proposed project be consistent with the requirements ofSon 30253 of the Coastal Act.


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C. Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas; Water Quality/Septic; andthe Location of New Development

Section 30230.

Marine resources shall be maintained, enhanced, and where feasible, restored.Special protection shall be given to areas and species of special biological oreconomic significance. Uses of the marine environment shall be carried out in amanner that will sustain the biological productivity of coastal waters and that willmaintain healthy populations of all species of marine organisms adequate for long-term commercial, recreational, scientific, and educational purposes.

Section 30231.

The biological productivity and the quality of coastal waters, streams, wetlands,estuaries, and lakes appropriate to maintain optimum populations of marineorganisms and for the protection of human health shall be maintained and, wherefeasible, restored through, among other means, minimizing adverse effects of wastewater discharges and entrainment, controlling runoff, preventing depletion of groundwater supplies and substantial interference with surface water flow, encouragingwaste water reclamation, maintaining natural vegetation buffer areas that protectriparian habitats, and minimizing alteration of natural streams.

Section 30240.

(a) Environmentally sensitive habitat areas shall be protected against any significantdisruption of habitat values, and only uses dependent on those resources shall beallowed within those areas.

(b) Development in areas adjacent to environmentally sensitive habitat areas andparks and recreation areas shall be sited and designed to prevent impacts whichwould significantly degrade those areas, and shall be compatible with thecontinuance of those habitat and recreation areas.

Section 30250.

(a) New residential, commercial, or industrial development, except as otherwiseprovided in this division, shall be located within, contiguous with, or in closeproximity to, existing developed areas able to accommodate it or, where such areasare not able to accommodate it, in other areas with adequate public services andwhere it will not have significant adverse effects, either individually or cumulatively,on coastal resources. In addition, land divisions, other than leases for agriculturaluses, outside existing developed areas shall be permitted only where 50 percent of


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the usable parcels in the area have been developed and the created parcels wouldbe no smaller than the average size of surrounding parcels.

The proposed project is located immediately adjacent to Ramirez Canyon Creek. Thecreek is recognized as a blueline stream with regular water flows into the Pacific Ocean.The mouth of the creek is just west of Paradise Cove, an area noted for the presence ofthe rich, environmentally sensitive kelp bed habitat immediately offshore. TheCommission recognized the importance of this creek in certifying the Malibu/SantaMonica Mountains Land Use Plan (LUP) and identified the creek as a designatedEnvironmentally Sensitive Habitat Area (ESHA). The Coastal Act provides for thestrictest protection of water quality and environmentally sensitive habitat areas, such asthis stream, as essential for the protection of coastal resources. The Coastal Act alsoprovides that development adjacent to ESHAs must prevent impacts that would degradethe sensitive habitat.

Septic Disposal Systems

The subject site contains five (5) single family residences situated in varying degrees ofrelatively close proximity to the creek. The residences predate the Coastal Act and areserved by aging septic disposal systems and leachfields that in some cases do not meetthe setback requirements from the blue line stream established by the Commission inpast permit decisions and set forth in the certified LUP, upon which the Commission hasrelied for guidance. In addition, these setback requirements are established in theUniform Plumbing Code (UPC).

For example, LUP Policy P80 requires that leachfields be set back at least 50 feet fromthe outer edge of riparian or oak canopy and that seepage pits be set back at least 100feet from the outer edge of riparian or oak canopy. The policy allows for a greatersetback if necessary to prevent lateral seepage from the disposal beds into streamwaters. The leachfield for the Barwood facility has been determined to extend within 24feet of the nearest adjacent creekbank.

The purpose of requiring adequate setbacks from riparian corridors, and adequate septicdisposal system capacity and performance, is to protect water quality. The necessarysetbacks and performance standards for septic disposal systems prevent the overflow orlateral seepage of leachate into the stream corridor. Improperly located, or inadequatelydesigned and/or undersized septic disposal systems are coming under increased scrutinyas primary sources of water contamination. Resultant pollution (in conjunction with othersources of contaminated discharge into coastal waters) has resulted in record numbersof downstream beach closures in recent years. Additionally, the contaminants andacid/alkaline characteristics of leachate may adversely affect the native vegetationadjacent to stream corridors and the biota of coastal waters.

The applicant has submitted a series of reports and analyses concerning the location andcondition of the existing septic disposal systems serving the five residences on the


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subject site. The most recent reports received by Commission staff on March 22, 2000contained the results of water quality analyses of up- and downstream samples takenfrom Ramirez Canyon Creek. The tests showed elevated concentrations of bacteria instream water samples drawn downgradient of the park as compared with concentrationsdetected in water samples drawn upgradient of the park. The tests were inconclusive asto the exact source of contamination but could not rule out the possibility that septiccontamination of the stream may be occurring. In light of this information, andconjunction with other studies commissioned by the applicant that determined that theseptic facilities for Barn, Barwood, and Peach are significantly undersized to accept theeffluent for the uses proposed for these structures, the applicant has amended theproposed project to include the abandonment of all or portions of the respective septicsystems and abandonment of the idle septic disposal system and leachfields that locatedbeneath the tennis courts.

In place of the aging septic systems, the applicant proposes to install a new wastewatertreatment system. The new, advanced treatment technology incorporated into thewastewater treatment & reuse system proposed by the applicant is described in detail inthe report titled “Septic System Analysis, Ramirez Canyon Park,” prepared by Penfield &Smith, dated March 9, 2000. The proposed system will treat septic effluent to a highstandard of quality and the resultant recycled water will be applied to the existingterraced orchards. See Exhibit 6.

The ranger residence and the Art Deco facility will continue to be served by existingseptic disposal systems. The ranger residence is set back significantly from the creekand is not used for any function other than as a single family residence. The Art Decofacility is situated closer to the creek, but still set back significantly, beyond applicablesetback distances for septic systems. In addition, the Art Deco facility is rarely used..According to the applicant, tours pass through the Art Deco building, and it isoccasionally used as a greeting area for other events, but gatherings that could generatesignificant septic burden are held in

Documents

4-98-334 SMMC April2000ReportVENTURA, CA 93001 (805) 585-1800 STAFF REPORT: REGULAR CALENDAR APPLICATION: 4-98-334 APPLICANT: State of California, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy